Top Investment Manager Reveals US Plan to Combat Drug Trafficking in Pacific Islands
By Kirsty Needham
SYDNEY (Multibagger) - The United States is joining forces with Pacific Island nations to crack down on drug trafficking by criminal networks from China, using the region as a hub for narcotics exports to the U.S., Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell announced on Thursday.
With a surge in overdose deaths, the United States has been pointing fingers at Chinese firms for their involvement in the global fentanyl supply chain, while countries like Fiji and Tonga have witnessed a spike in methamphetamine seizures.
Addressing the pressing issue of drug trafficking, the United States is set to make a major announcement next week regarding law enforcement efforts in the Pacific, a concern that is increasingly alarming regional leaders, Campbell stated.
"We are troubled by the emergence of networks from China and Southeast Asia utilizing the Pacific for transhipment to Latin America and the United States," he informed reporters in Vanuatu.
"Many of our Pacific partners are eager to collaborate with us in tackling this problem."
The United States is prepared to provide assistance in various areas such as drug interdiction, treatment, and prevention, Campbell added.
During his visit to Vanuatu to inaugurate the U.S. embassy, Campbell also met with leaders at the Pacific Islands Forum in Tonga.
Following a security pact with China under its previous leader, the Solomon Islands now seeks to re-engage with the United States, as confirmed by Campbell after meeting Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele.
In discussions with China's Pacific envoy Qian Bo, Campbell highlighted the importance of finding common ground in the Pacific, including cooperation on climate change projects, a move welcomed by regional leaders.
"The Pacific has made it clear that it does not want to be caught in the middle of conflicts between major powers, and we respect that," Campbell emphasized.
The United States is actively working on offering financing for small businesses to boost tourism, upgrade hospital infrastructure, and enhance telecom links in Vanuatu, ensuring Pacific Island nations have a diversity of partners to choose from.
China, with its substantial infrastructure investments over the past decade, remains Vanuatu's largest external creditor.
On another front, the Pacific Island Forum recently approved an Australian-funded A$400-million ($271-million) initiative to enhance police training in the region and establish a mobile policing unit.
Australia's move to bolster the capacity of Pacific police forces aims to counterbalance China's increasing police presence in the region.
Analysis: The US-led efforts to combat drug trafficking in the Pacific Islands, with a focus on cooperation and support for law enforcement, will have significant implications for the region. By addressing the growing influence of criminal networks from China and Southeast Asia, the initiative aims to enhance security, curb drug-related crimes, and foster stability in the region. This development underscores the importance of international collaboration in tackling transnational challenges and underscores the US commitment to promoting peace and security in the Pacific.